KES cadets clean up at biathlon provincials

Emma Hatchard earned top marks for her efforts at the provincial cadet biathlon tournament at Ski Martock and will be on her way to nationals.

MARTOCK, N.S. - A lack of snow didn’t stop cadets from across Nova Scotia from competing in a provincial biathlon tournament at Ski Martock on Jan. 22.

King’s-Edgehill School cadets stood out in a big way, bringing home some hardware for their efforts, and a seat at the nationals for all four competitors.

Emma Hatchard, 17, with the 254 King’s-Edgehill School Cadet Corps, is on her way to nationals after coming first in the youth female category.

“It was pretty exciting; it’s my last year competing with cadets, so I’m really happy that I did so well for my final year,” Hatchard said.

Hatchard has been competing in biathlon since she was 12-years-old, making this her sixth year in the sport.

“I’ll go to university next year and I may continue with Nova Scotia Biathlon and Nova Scotia Rugby,” she said.

King’s-Edgehill School cadets stood out in a big way, bringing home some hardware for their efforts, and a seat at the nationals for all four competitors.

Emma Hatchard, 17, with the 254 King’s-Edgehill School Cadet Corps, is on her way to nationals after coming first in the youth female category.

“It was pretty exciting; it’s my last year competing with cadets, so I’m really happy that I did so well for my final year,” Hatchard said.

Hatchard has been competing in biathlon since she was 12-years-old, making this her sixth year in the sport.

“I’ll go to university next year and I may continue with Nova Scotia Biathlon and Nova Scotia Rugby,” she said.

Madison Taljaard, right, and Aria MacDonald, centre, with the 254 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Windsor, accept their medals at the cadet biathlon provincials. Both are heading to nationals.Emma Hatchard, centre, accepts her medal during the biathlon cadet provincials at Ski Martock on Jan. 22.Linus Mulherin, centre, earns a gold in his category for the 254 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps.

Hatchard said she was happy to see her fellow KES cadets perform so well.

One of those fellow cadets is Linus Mulherin, 15, who placed first in top composite team with Hatchard.

“I had a cold over the weekend, so I wasn’t coming into it with a lot of expectations, getting fifth yesterday,” Mulherin said. “Then today I got first in my pursuit and me and Emma got first in our group.”

Mulherin started competing in biathlon three years ago and said nationals has been his goal from the start.

Karen Jones, biathlon and marksmen coach for the King’s-Edgehill School 254 Cadet Corps, said she was thrilled with their performance.

“I feel really good because it’s so exciting to see them work so hard,” Jones said. “We really had limited resources, not having enough snow that had fallen and some illnesses, getting back from Christmas break, so you’re kind of thrown in very quickly.”

Sixty cadets from Cape Breton to Yarmouth, who earned top marks at regional competitions, participated in the provincial tournament.

Some of the results from the Cadets biathlon provincials

Top junior girls team: Madison Taljaard and Aria MacDonald, 254 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Windsor.

Top senior girls team: Maddy Mason and Cali Bruce, 2928 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Truro.

Top junior boys team: Jonathan Thibault and Michael Rabouin, 615 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Halifax.

Top composite team (senior Boys; youth Women): Linus Mulherin and Emma Hatchard, 254 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Windsor.

Fastest male: Ryan Magee, 29 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Sydney.

Fastest female: Abigail Murray, 3036 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Lower Sackville.

Aria MacDonald lines up a shot during the provincial cadet biathlon tournament at Ski Martock.